Behavioral Support Programs for Families and Caregivers

Mobile Crisis Response Service

Mobile Crisis Response Service (MCRS) offers prompt, effective, behavioral intervention services to individuals with developmental disabilities, with or without mental illness, who are in crisis or are exhibiting crisis-like behaviors. A crisis is an intense behavioral episode that threatens the stability of the living arrangement.

This four-week program provides a structured intervention with the goal of re-establishing Instructional control for the family/caregiver, promoting a safe environment and preventing the loss of placement or hospitalization.

Pro-active Intervention — Designed for “at risk” individuals who are exhibiting challenging behaviors. This four-week program educates and trains the parents/caregivers in pro-active teaching approaches designed to decrease inappropriate behaviors and prevent crisis situations from occurring.

Crisis Intervention — A Behavior Specialist comes to the family’s home and assists in de-escalating the individual/family member who is in a behavioral crisis. The behavior specialist will also help transition the individual/family member back to the home from the hospital upon discharge. A four-week follow-up service is available for continued assistance.

Home Based Services

Home-Based Services (HBS) is an intensive, in-home intervention program designed to assist families in which an individual with a developmental disability is exhibiting challenging behaviors or skill deficits.

This program is an eight-week intervention designed to resolve behavioral issues in the home while keeping the family intact.

It is specifically for families who have a developmentally disabled dependent who is exhibiting behavioral problems that could potentially lead to out-of-home placement or to a more restrictive setting.

Individualized support in the home enables the families to participate in the care and treatment of their loved one while preserving family placement.

Programs Include:

In-home assessment of the individual’s behavioral needs

Education and modeling of structuring, coping and communication skills

Instruction in the Teaching-Family Model and its core components

Development of teaching plans for the whole family

Implementation of individualized treatment plans

Positive and preventive teaching strategies specific to the family

Behavior-specific treatment and support

Conceptual feedback to enhance teaching techniques and skills learned

Collaboration with schools or day programs to maintain a continuity of service delivery

Referral Process (800) 987-SERV (7378)

Referrals for both HBS and MCRS programs must come from the New Jersey Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD)-Lower Central Region. The appointed DDD Case Manager will call SERV or send a referral packet regarding the individual.

If you are a caregiver or parent and have an individual with developmental disabilities who you think would benefit from these services, contact the individual’s DDD Case Manager.